Holothuroidea |
Elasipodida |
Pelagothuriidae
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Pelagic; depth range 0 - 4505 m (Ref. 127484). Tropical
Eastern Pacific.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Shape is a reminiscent of a medusa that resembles a jellyfish. Body conical, which supports an enormous umbrella-like veil. The veil extended anteriorly, composed of 12-16 large webbed podia. Body wall transparent and pigmented pale violet or pink.
Only known truly pelagic holothurian, floating or drifting near seafloor or high in the water column (Refs. 109722, 129602). Also known as a swimmng sea cucumber, it is found in low oxygen areas and is assumed as a tactic to avoid predators that are more oxygen-hungry and could easily suffocate (Ref. 127487). Feeds on resuspended sediments or detrital material from shallower depths (Ref. 109722).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Members of the class Holothuroidea are gonochoric and have only one gonad. Spawning and fertilization are both external and some exhibit brooding. Life cycle: Embryos develop into planktotrophic larvae (auricularia) then into doliolaria (barrel-shaped stage) which later metamorphose into juvenile sea cucumbers.
Alvarado, J.J. and J. Cortés 2009 Echinoderms. pp. 421-434. In I.S. Wehrtmann, J. Cortés (eds.) Marine biodiversity of Costa Rica, Central America. Springer 538 p. (Ref. 83942)
IUCN Red List Status
(Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
CITES status (Ref. 108899)
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
| FishSource |
Tools
More information
Trophic EcologyFood items (preys)
Diet composition
Food consumption
Predators
Population dynamicsGrowth
Max. ages / sizes
Length-weight rel.
Length-length rel.
Length-frequencies
Mass conversion
Abundance
Life cycleReproductionMaturityFecunditySpawningEggsEgg developmentLarvae PhysiologyOxygen consumption
Human RelatedStamps, coins, misc.
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature
(Ref.
115969): 12.6 - 16.8, mean 14.8 (based on 30 cells).
